Residents in Salford sent letter warning them their post has been temporarily suspended after two postmen were confronted by dog

The Royal Mail is refusing to make deliveries to nearly 100 homes on a housing estate – because of one ‘aggressive’ dog.

Residents in Salford have been sent a letter warning them their post has been temporarily suspended for health and safety reasons after two postmen were confronted by the animal.

One of the men allegedly had to defend himself with his postbag – which was damaged in the attack. Neither of the postmen were bitten.

The letter was sent on February 7 to 90 homes on and around Briar Hill Avenue in Little Hulton.

It said a health and safety assessment showed the level of risk was ‘unacceptably high due to threat of further dog attacks’.

It apologised for the inconvenience – and told residents they would have to travel four miles to collect their mail from a delivery office on Wardley Industrial Estate in Worsley.

The Royal Mail said it was working with the dog’s owner to find a solution.

The mail boycott has divided the estate.

Tony Lee, 33, of Briar Hill Avenue, said: “I don’t know the owner but I’ve never had any trouble from that dog. It’s blatantly obvious to me that they only need to stop deliveries at the address where the dog is, not all these homes.”

Neighbour Brian Lowe, 73, a great grandfather of three, added: “It’s absolute rubbish that we are all being punished for one dog. Now I have to take a bus and walk for a very long way to collect my mail. It’s hard to believe that one dog is affecting all our mail.”

But other residents said they too had been chased by the dog.

Paul Ogden, 24, of Briar Hill Avenue, said: “If it’s too unsafe for the postmen then what about us? We’ve got kids – surely something should be done about it.

“It has chased me before. It’s a big dog.”

Sarah Rouse, 32, said she and her two children – Chloe, 16, and Lucas, 13 – had all been chased by the dog. She said: “It needs to be locked up and restrained for everyone’s safety.”

Royal Mail spokeswoman Val Boden said they were working with the council and hoped to resume deliveries soon.

She said: “Deliveries have already been suspended to the address where the dog lives and we have asked the owners to keep the dog under control, so that the postman can complete his round safely.

“Unfortunately this hasn’t happened. Following a number of near misses and a risk assessment of the area, we have had to temporarily suspend deliveries to these properties as a precautionary measure.”

Gena Merrett, Salford’s assistant mayor for housing and environment, confirmed they had received a complaint about the dog on Tuesday.

The M.E.N. was unable to contact the owner of the dog – described as a large dark brown mixed-breed. The curtains of the house were closed and the dog could be heard barking inside.

Some 311 postmen and women were attacked by dogs in the north west in the 12 months to April last year. There were 46 dog attacks in Manchester last year, 18 in Bolton, 14 in Oldham, 39 in Stockport, 20 in Warrington, and 15 in Wigan